Transcript Highlights:

• When they arrive, that is an issue, and installation, which is an expansion of the inspection scope from
• The areas I use zone for multifamily versus single-family require different infrastructure and public
• want to make sure that the areas meant for the increased density, multifamily, have all that infrastructure
• we felt like a ministerial... we feel like a... we feel like a... ...multifamily have all that infrastructure
• And we think that's important because that helps pay for the infrastructure necessary to support the

Committee: House Housing and Community Development

Transcript Highlights:

• Dees rules and fees regulate how expansion occurs, but not whether expansion should occur at all.
• </c><05:57:53.280><c> The</c> and expansion is discouraged. The and expansion is discouraged.
• how expansion occurs but not whether<05:59:14.638><c> expansion</c><05:59:15.360><c> should</c><05:59
• </c> whether expansion should occur at all. whether expansion should occur at all.
• :19.520><c> is</c> The amendment presumes expansion is The amendment presumes expansion is acceptable

Transcript Highlights:

• Joe Wingetter, I work for Kiewit Infrastructure, highway industry, and the AGC of Texas.
• We're not talking about casino games, eight liners, or any gambling expansion of any kind.
• Brick-and-mortar and kind of the maximum expansion that we've been able to get, there's been a lot of
• In designing the critical infrastructure that Texas relies on, we recommend that high standards must
• Texas has qualified, licensed engineers designing the infrastructure projects that are critical. to our

Bills: HB679 , HB1764 , HB1788 , HB2186 , HB2204 , HB2418 , HB2885 , HB2983 , HB2996 , HB3250 , HB3352 , HB3756 , HB3816 , HB3913 , HB3928 , HB4077

Committee: House Licensing & Administrative Procedures

Keywords: environment, regulation, land use, public health, community development, alcohol, Sunday sales, local option election, Texas, business hours, alcohol sales, liquor, off-premise consumption, alcoholic beverages, CPA, Certified Public Accountant, licensing, accountancy, state regulation, continuing education

Transcript Highlights:

• These taxes do not support our cost of service, infrastructure, maintenance, or capital improvements,
• There is a cost to extend infrastructure and maintain that system.
• They’re not reinvesting in their infrastructure.
• The infrastructure is chronically, chronically underinvested in, and what you get are...
• The infrastructure is chronically, chronically underinvested in.

Bills: S0018 , S0028 , S0260 , S0848 , S0934 , S1014 , S1102 , S1264 , S1566 , S1622 , S1724

Committee: Senate Community Affairs

Summary: The committee heard and advanced a wide range of bills focused on water safety, utilities, housing, transparency, and claims relief. CS/SB 848 on stormwater treatment was presented as a follow-up to prior water-quality legislation and reported favorably with one support waiver. SB 28, a claims bill for Reginald Jackson against the City of Lakeland, was also reported favorably. CS/SB 658, a bipartisan child-drowning prevention bill for rental properties, drew extensive testimony from child advocacy and drowning-prevention groups in strong support; amendments required rental license applicants to certify compliance and removed local-government add-on authority, and the bill was reported favorably. CS/SB 18, a claims bill involving the estate of a deceased minor and the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, prompted questions about settlement and responsibility but was ultimately reported favorably despite opposition from a waiver form. Several utility and infrastructure measures were considered. CS/SB 1724 would regulate municipal utility service outside city limits, limit revenue transfers, require public meetings, and cap rate differences; an amendment added gas utilities, and the bill was reported favorably after testimony from municipal utility representatives and small-county advocates. CS/SB 1014 would require municipal utilities to extend water and wastewater service to certain nearby residential properties without conditioning service on annexation; an amendment narrowed the bill to residential uses and clarified capacity and grandfathering provisions, and it passed favorably. CS/SB 1102 would allow local infrastructure surtax revenue to fund body camera programs, with an amendment making the surtax authorization prospective and requiring a new referendum; it was reported favorably. CS/SB 260 on electric-vehicle storage in towing yards was amended to focus on storage only and to tie the higher fee to the period before fire-risk inspection, then reported favorably after testimony from insurers, fire officials, and EV industry representatives. The committee also advanced education, housing, and ethics-related bills. SB 1264 would ease zoning and code barriers for small private schools and micro-schools, with supporters arguing it would expand school choice and opponents raising implementation concerns; it was reported favorably. SB 934 on Florida Keys areas of critical state concern was amended to remove a tax-exemption section that conflicted with the Live Local Act, then reported favorably. SB 1622 would provide a one-time waiver of late financial-disclosure fines under specified conditions and was reported favorably. Finally, CS/SB 1566 on local government spending and transparency required online posting of budgets and related materials, and an amendment added utility revenue reinvestment and other changes while removing DEI spending restrictions; the bill drew support for transparency but concern from small cities and counties about cost and workload, and it was reported favorably. The meeting ended with adjournment after senators recorded votes on selected bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• The colonial infrastructure fund, Tribal Infrastructure Fund, and now the Housing Trust Fund.
• The creation of the infrastructure division was. One strategy to address that.
• Expanding our infrastructure. We had nine students in the fall; we'll have 12 students here.
• And telling us what you have and what your needs infrastructure is gonna Be slow moving.
• These companies are gonna have to develop the infrastructure.

Bills: HB1 , HB1

Committees: Senate Senate Finance , Senate House Appropriations & Finance

Keywords: feed bill, legislative appropriations, legislative branch, New Mexico Legislature, general fund, legislative council service, legislative finance committee, legislative education study committee, house chief clerk, senate chief clerk, per diem, mileage, session expenses, interim committees, district staff, capitol complex, capital outlay data system, legislative processing system, redistricting, census redistricting

Transcript Highlights:

• We would also support expansion of this bill in any way to include more students.
• :10:54.639><c> would</c><00:10:54.880><c> also</c><00:10:55.120><c> support</c><00:10:55.519><c> expansion
• </c><00:10:55.959><c> of</c> and we would also support expansion of and we would also support expansion
• </c><01:00:42.640><c> utilities</c><01:00:43.079><c> for</c> because infrastructure utilities for because
• infrastructure utilities for water<01:00:43.480><c> and</c><01:00:43.599><c> sewer</c><01:00:43.960>

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, I would think the only reason for expansion of that 30-foot would be if we're in a forest and then
• ,</c><00:57:27.520><c> but</c> if they're doing a big expansion, but if they're doing a big expansion
• When drainage infrastructure fails, the consequences are physical and financial. They're real.
• They shift to property taxes or are deferred until infrastructure fails. Mr.
• </c> taxes or deferred until infrastructure taxes or deferred until infrastructure fails.<01:26:48.239

Bills: SF0099 , SF0116 , SJ0006

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• I stand in strong support of the technology readiness gross receipts expansion.
• Our development community will be able to execute this more quickly because that's where the infrastructure
• It supports neighborhood revitalization, job creation, and more efficient use of existing infrastructure
• Local zoning allows communities to plan for growth in ways that consider infrastructure capacity, public
• safety, and community... ...to plan for growth in ways that consider infrastructure capacity, public

Committee: House House Commerce & Economic Development Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Up until now, it has excluded the use of biofuels for transportation infrastructure.
• When I look at the engineering challenges, number one is aging infrastructure.
• that I'm sure... ...address a lot of the aging infrastructure that I'm sure has been put on hold for
• Whether you're doing an upgrade to address aging infrastructure or for nutrient reduction, you don't
• Because right now it seems like waste management is what is preventing any type of growth or expansion

Summary: The Assembly Select Committee on Biotechnology and Medical Technology held an informational hearing at Bakar Labs on the UC Berkeley campus titled “Biotechnology Industries’ Role in Wastewater Treatment.” Chair Assembly Member Ward and Assembly Member Papan opened by framing wastewater as a major California challenge tied to water scarcity, aging infrastructure, regulatory demands, affordability, and the need for innovation. Bakar Labs described its biotech incubator and public-private model, emphasizing the role of state support in helping early-stage companies commercialize technologies and create jobs. The first panel focused on the current wastewater treatment landscape. BACWA Executive Director Laurie Fono described wastewater plants as part of a circular economy that can produce recycled water, environmental benefits, renewable energy, and biosolids for land application, but said agencies face major challenges from aging 1970s-era infrastructure, nutrient reduction mandates, climate change, sea level rise, evolving regulations, and Prop. 218 limits on rate structures. She highlighted PFAS as a major source-control issue, saying most of it comes from households rather than local manufacturing, and argued that treatment plants are not designed to handle everything entering the sewer system. Members asked about regional differences, energy generation, financing, smaller decentralized plants, and agricultural collaboration. The second panel highlighted biotechnology research and testing tools. A Berkeley Lab scientist described using microbial communities and machine learning to improve PFAS and produced-water treatment, while a CEL Analytical laboratory director discussed pathogen testing for direct potable reuse, wastewater surveillance, and the need for larger sample volumes and better filtration methods to validate log reductions. A Stanford researcher presented an anaerobic membrane bioreactor system that converts domestic wastewater into clean water and biogas with lower energy use and less biosolids, reporting a demonstration project in Redwood City that is net energy positive and can reduce operating costs. Legislators asked about AI, scaling technologies, pathogen detection, and funding needs. Panelists and public commenters urged more pilot funding, stronger utility-state-industry partnerships, and better coordination among regulatory agencies. The hearing ended with public comment from the California Association of Sanitation Agencies and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• The purposeful expansion of the system and the services we offer is crucial.
• So, reference to the pre-kindergarten expansion statement, 20 percent...
• Firstborn has seen a lot of expansion this year.
• And also, good luck, Director Hines, for this expansion.
• Bricks and mortar are important for those expansions.

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• one-time removal of those pay stipends and a $43.5 million increase for the Louisiana Gator Program expansion
• That $668,000 that I spoke of earlier for Gator expansion, those are for vendor accounts. $150,000. $38,000
• that I spoke of earlier for Gator expansion, those are for vendor accounts, $150,000 for that scholarship
• or evidence of how much we're supposed to be invested outside of the formula in reference to infrastructure
• . ...the industrial plant, how much as a state we should be allocating to our infrastructure and, in

Committee: House Appropriations

Summary: The committee met on March 17 to review the FY27 budgets for the Department of Education and several special schools and commissions. Fiscal staff outlined the Department of Education’s roughly $6.4 billion budget, noting that most funding goes to the Minimum Foundation Program and subgrantee assistance. Major changes discussed included the removal of one-time teacher pay stipends, increases for the LA GATOR scholarship program, and projected adjustments in early childhood funding. Members also reviewed the constitutional amendment proposal tied to using about $2 billion to pay down teacher retirement obligations and provide future teacher pay raises. Dr. Cade Brumley testified that Louisiana’s education outcomes have improved and answered questions on math performance, charter school funding, the LA GATOR scholarship, and the special education Choice program. Members pressed the department on the sustainability and balance of funding between LA GATOR and Choice, the number of applicants and current recipients, and outreach efforts. Brumley said charter schools are funded through the MFP like other public schools, that LA GATOR currently serves about 5,500 students with applications recently reaching about 17,000, and that the Choice program serves about 500 students with a waiting list of about 700 applicants. He also said the department would implement whatever funding levels the legislature approves. The committee then heard the special schools and commissions budget, including the Special School District, Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts, Thrive Academy, École Pointe-au-Chien, Louisiana Public Broadcasting, and BESE. Testimony focused on facility needs, enrollment, and program outcomes. LSU? No—LSM leaders described urgent roof and ceiling repairs estimated at about $800,000, while Thrive Academy highlighted student achievement, community service requirements, and economic impact. LPB said it is facing a federal funding loss of about $2.5 million and is responding with higher Passport fees, underwriting, and private fundraising. BESE’s small staff and administrative role were also explained, with members asking about board operations and the use of statutory dedication funds.

Transcript Highlights:

• , if we get a little bit of a grant or so, or just a few more funds, we can share all of that infrastructure
• </c><00:25:54.080><c> instead</c> share all of that infrastructure instead share all of that infrastructure
• Okay, so it’s above the income limit for Medicaid expansion, which is 138%.
• So I guess my question is: are we making sure that people who are eligible for Medicaid expansion are
• expansion expansion are<00:48:51.079><c> made</c><00:48:51.280><c> it</c><00:48:51.520><c> or</c><00

Summary: The Health and Human Services Oversight Committee met on February 2 and first approved the draft minutes from the prior meeting, with minor corrections to the meeting date and attendance notation. DHHS Associate Commissioner Patricia Tilly then gave a department update, describing the current uncertainty around federal priorities and funding, and provided two substantive reports: progress on the new Hampstead Youth Development Center and an update on the department’s review of an ALS registry proposal. She said the YDC project is underway with tree clearing, fencing, stormwater and site-prep work, and remains on track for completion by June 30, 2026 and operation by August 30, 2026. The center currently has 12 youth, and the new design is intended to provide flexibility for fluctuating census levels. On ALS, Tilly explained that HB 576 had prompted the department to examine whether a registry could be built, but the estimated cost of a HIPAA-compliant system was about $750,000. She said DHHS is reviewing whether existing data sources, such as hospital discharge data and CHIS claims data, could provide useful information, but noted both are incomplete for registry purposes. Committee members discussed whether the Rare Disease Advisory Council, Dartmouth, or existing cancer registry infrastructure could help reduce costs. DHHS said it is neutral and willing to continue exploring alternatives, while members emphasized the value of a registry and the need to consider shared infrastructure and funding. The committee also heard from Jenny Horan of the Alzheimer’s Association, who presented the subcommittee’s report on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. She said the subcommittee spent the past year gathering information on dementia care, abuse and exploitation issues, caregiver strain, and available services, and is now moving into a second phase focused on identifying gaps and developing a state plan. Members asked about geriatric psychiatric capacity and long-term care availability; Horan said the state has limited capacity and that the plan will help clarify where needs are greatest. She offered to return for follow-up questions at a later meeting. Finally, Olivia May of DHHS presented the quarterly report on the 12-month postpartum Medicaid coverage extension. She said New Hampshire implemented the extension after federal and state action, and the first claims data are still emerging because of reporting lags. In the initial cohort studied, 95% received some medical services during the extended period, 52.4% received mental health or substance use disorder treatment, 26.7% received preventive visits, and 3.2% received heart or hypertension services. Members asked about return on investment and whether higher federal matching rates are being used appropriately; DHHS said it claims the highest possible match based on eligibility group and will return with more data over time. The committee then heard the annual therapeutic cannabis program report from Michael Holt, who said the program had 1,475 registered patients as of June 30, 2024 and that growth has slowed, with New Hampshire having the lowest per-capita medical cannabis enrollment nationally.

Transcript Highlights:

• The difference is we are simply being told that this is just an expansion of safe harbor.
• I respectfully ask for a no vote on this simply because this is not just a simple expansion of Safe Harbor
• pathways, and participation in our evolving workforce, and will ensure that we are setting up our infrastructure
• pathways, and participation in our evolving workforce, and will ensure that we are setting up our infrastructure
• This expansion would provide a full exemption for qualifying low-income disabled veterans and half of

Transcript Highlights:

• dollars from investments in natural climate solutions, wildfire resilience, and climate energy infrastructure
• lowest levels since the Great Depression, which is costing the state jobs and wood processing infrastructure
• governor’s inclusion of a small increase in Public Works Board staff that will be focused on infrastructure
• for us to provide affordable loans and grants and help make communities affordable and provide infrastructure
• The program supports the entire local foods infrastructure that allows small- and mid-scale farmers to

Bills: HB2289

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: appropriations, budget, fiscal matters, state spending, general fund, supplemental budget, biennial budget, substitute bill, public defense, civil legal aid, courts, judicial branch, homelessness, supportive housing, affordable housing, behavioral health, juvenile rehabilitation, youth services, child welfare, foster care

Transcript Highlights:

• dollars from investments in natural climate solutions, wildfire resilience, and climate energy infrastructure
• lowest levels since the Great Depression, which is costing the state jobs and wood processing infrastructure
• governor's inclusion of a small increase in Public Works Board staff that will be focused on infrastructure
• for us to provide affordable loans and grants and help make communities affordable and provide infrastructure
• The program supports the entire local foods infrastructure that allows small- and mid-scale farmers to

Summary: The House Appropriations Committee continued its public hearing on House Bill 2289, the fiscal biennial supplemental operating budget appropriations bill. The chair and vice chair explained the hearing process, limited testimony to one minute per person, and then heard extensive public comment from a wide range of advocates, local officials, service providers, and residents. No committee vote was taken during the hearing. Much of the testimony focused on opposition to proposed budget shifts involving Climate Commitment Act revenue, especially the proposed diversion of $569 million to other uses, including the Working Families Tax Credit. Environmental, public health, and local government witnesses argued those funds should remain dedicated to climate pollution reduction, wildfire resilience, clean transportation, natural climate solutions, and affordability programs. Several speakers also urged full funding for wildfire response and forest health, including the HB 1168 commitment, and opposed transfers from the Public Works Assistance Account. Other major topics included Medicaid and long-term care rates, with nursing home and assisted living providers warning that freezing or delaying rate rebasing would worsen staffing shortages and threaten access to care. Public health and health care advocates opposed cuts to foundational public health services, Apple Health expansion, and pharmacy benefit changes, while oral health advocates asked to preserve Medicaid dental funding and support Dentist Link. Testimony also supported or opposed funding for K-12 programs such as special education, the Ninth Grade Success Initiative, and homeless student stability; early learning and child care subsidies; disability services; public defense; housing and homelessness prevention; food assistance; higher education; and immigrant legal services. The committee concluded the hearing and adjourned after public testimony ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• may be ongoing, I'm not sure—but is it the whole development that you're doing, including the infrastructure
• This expansion has the potential to increase the number of projects that can benefit from these critical
• These conversions would utilize existing infrastructure near employment centers and let residents live
• These conversions would utilize existing infrastructure near employment centers and let residents live
• more property tax revenue per acre than large-lot sprawl, and places less strain on infrastructure.

Bills: SB208 , SB628 , SB777 , SB1042 , SB2354 , SB2477 , SB2521 , SB2523 , SB2608 , SB2703 , SB2778 , SB2835 , SB2965 , SB2367 , SB3044

Committee: Senate Local Government

Summary: The Senate Committee on Local Government met with a quorum and limited public testimony to two minutes per person. The committee heard Senate Bill 628 by Senator Zaffirini, which would clarify that counties may enter interlocal agreements with emergency service districts to administer and enforce county fire codes, including for multi-county ESDs in the committee substitute. Witnesses from Travis County ESD-11, the Travis County Fire Marshal’s Office, and a member of the public supported the bill as a way to reduce duplication, costs, and jurisdictional confusion. Public testimony was closed and the committee substitute was left pending. The committee then heard several housing-related bills. Senate Bill 208 by Senator West would create a Workforce Housing Capital Investment Fund to provide zero-interest loans to nonprofit builders for workforce housing; Habitat for Humanity representatives, a Brownsville nonprofit developer, and housing advocates supported it as a way to finance infrastructure and land development for affordable homes. Senate Bill 2835 by Senator Johnson would allow cities to opt into single-stair apartment buildings for small-scale, multi-story housing; supporters said the design is safe and could expand housing supply, while the Texas APA expressed qualified opposition over code-process concerns and fire-safety questions. Both bills were left pending after testimony. Additional bills heard included SB 1042 updating the Kimble County Hospital District’s enabling law; SB 1708, a committee substitute protecting familial property divisions from platting requirements; SB 2778 raising the ESD expenditure threshold requiring board approval from $2,000 to up to $50,000; SB 2608 expanding LIHTC eligibility for certain public housing projects; SB 3044 adding board representation for Marfa and Presidio on the Presidio County Underground Water Conservation District and adjusting an exemption; SB 2367 extending park board authority to Waller County; SB 2523 clarifying ETJ reduction procedures and owner opt-out rights; SB 2521 requiring death-certificate reporting to appraisal districts to help address squatting and homestead exemption issues; and SB 2477 easing office-to-residential conversions in larger cities. In each case, the bills were laid out, testimony was taken, and the measures were left pending subject to call of the chair. The committee then recessed until 15 to 30 minutes after adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• The government we responsible for relocation and help prevent delays in transportation, infrastructure
• For example, the Orange County Convention Center is a 500 and it's in the expansion.
• You have the the network Henry recurring costs there and then infrastructure renewal.
• They put stress on our infrastructure. Sometimes they even commit crimes.
• , to create to create destination infrastructure, to create more workforce housing for the tourism workers

Transcript Highlights:

• They endanger lives, they devastate communities, and they destroy critical infrastructure.
• year in firefighting and recovery costs in the coming decade to say nothing of the damage to our infrastructure
• These national forests are more important to us from an infrastructure perspective than the Lincoln Tunnel
• And I would also offer that funding of those kind of programs and expansion of those programs. within
• And I would add just one piece that through the bipartisan It's an infrastructure law in the Inflation

Bills: HB471

Committee: Senate Subcommittee on Conservation, Forestry, Natural Resources, and Biotechnology

Keywords: forest management, wildfire prevention, public lands, Tribal jurisdiction, Fix Our Forests Act, wildfire, forest health, hazardous fuels reduction, fuels treatment, prescribed burning, mechanical thinning, mastication, fuel breaks, fire breaks, wildland-urban interface, WUI, fireshed, fireshed management area, fireshed registry, Fireshed Center

Summary: The meeting primarily focused on H.R. 471, the Fix Our Forests Act, which aims to address the ongoing crisis of wildfires exacerbated by climate change and the need for updated forest management practices. Various committee members voiced concerns about past federal management failures and emphasized the necessity for collaborative approaches involving local communities and stakeholders in forest management. As discussions unfolded, there were varying perspectives on the implications of certain provisions in the bill, particularly around regulatory changes and their likely impacts on public participation and environmental reviews.

Transcript Highlights:

• As a nonpartisan election reform organization, CLC believes that thoughtful expansion of this policy
• Campaign Legal Center believes that thoughtful expansion of this policy balances both access and security
• most recent amendment that was adopted, where Section 1.5 was deleted by amendment, had the EASE expansion
• The Nevada Republican Party strongly opposes the expansion of electronic voting systems to additional
• testified against the bill previously because it contained electronic voting, which we oppose the expansion

Bills: AB534 , AB562 , AB595 , AB597 , AB600 , SB74 , SB226 , SB422 , SB488

Committee: Assembly Legislative Operations and Elections

Transcript Highlights:

• She then joined my staff to help us negotiate the water division of the Infrastructure and Jobs Act.
• She then went into private practice, advocating on behalf of water systems to ensure continued infrastructure
• The expansion of the area has occurred.
• Since the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act recently reinstated
• You mentioned the infrastructure.

Committee: Senate Environment and Public Works Committee

Keywords: presidential nominations, EPA, environmental policy, Fish and Wildlife, committee meeting

Summary: The committee meeting focused on the presidential nominations of Brigadier General Brian Nesvick as Director of Fish and Wildlife and Jess Kramer and Sean Donahue as assistant administrators at the EPA. Each nominee presented their qualifications and experiences in their respective fields, with an emphasis on their commitment to uphold the laws passed by Congress. The discussion highlighted the nominees' dedication to addressing environmental issues and their proactive stances on regulatory matters. After deliberation, votes were held to report the nominations favorably, despite some members voicing concerns regarding their qualifications and potential conflicts with environmental interests.